Panic disorder is an anxiety condition where individuals experience frequent and unexpected panic attacks that interfere with daily life. These episodes can feel overwhelming and distressing, often leading to avoidance behaviours and a fear of future attacks. Without the right support, panic disorder can impact a person’s emotional well-being, work, relationships, and overall quality of life. Around 5% of Australians will experience panic disorder at some point in their lifetime.
At Cova Psychology, our clinical psychologists in Melbourne provide evidence-based therapy to help individuals manage panic disorder effectively. If you are struggling with recurring panic attacks, our psychologists in Melbourne can support you in breaking the cycle of fear and regaining a sense of control.
A panic attack is a sudden, intense wave of fear, panic, or a sense of imminent danger that arises even when no real threat is present. These episodes are brief but can feel much longer to those experiencing them.
People with panic disorder may experience a combination of the following symptoms during an attack:
These symptoms can feel frightening, leading many individuals to believe they are having a medical emergency, such as a heart attack. As a result, panic disorder is often misinterpreted as other mental health issues before being correctly diagnosed by a psychologist in Melbourne.
Panic attacks occur due to the body’s fight-or-flight response, a survival mechanism designed to protect us in dangerous situations. When this system becomes dysregulated, it can trigger an excessive surge of stress hormones—such as adrenaline—causing intense physical and emotional distress.
In panic disorder, the fight-or-flight response activates inappropriately, even when no real danger exists. This can lead to a heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations, with individuals mistaking normal physiological changes, such as a racing heart or light-headedness, as signs of something catastrophic. The Australian Psychological Society provides further insights into the causes and mechanisms of panic disorder
Panic attacks can happen unexpectedly, but some common triggers include:
Not everyone who experiences a panic attack has panic disorder. However, individuals diagnosed with panic disorder experience:
Avoidance may reduce anxiety in the short term, but over time, it strengthens the fear response, reinforcing the cycle of panic disorder. For some people, when their panic is associated with socialising, they may also develop social anxiety.
Ongoing research into panic attacks continues to improve our understanding of their causes, mechanisms, and treatments. Studies suggest that panic attacks involve overactivity in the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for processing fear and threat. Researchers have also identified dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and breathing. This helps explain why individuals with panic disorder often experience intense physical symptoms, even in the absence of real danger.
Genetic studies indicate that panic disorder may have a hereditary component, with some individuals more biologically predisposed to heightened anxiety responses. Research also explores the role of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA, which influence mood and stress regulation. Medications that target these systems, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), have been found to help some individuals manage panic symptoms.
At Cova Psychology, our clinical psychologists in Melbourne use evidence-based therapies to help individuals manage panic disorder and reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. Therapy focuses on understanding why panic attacks occur, learning effective coping strategies, and breaking the avoidance cycle.
Extensive research has shown that CBT is one of the most effective treatments for panic disorder. This therapy helps individuals:
Through structured exposure exercises, CBT helps individuals confront situations they have been avoiding, allowing them to regain confidence in daily activities.
ACT encourages individuals to change their relationship with anxiety rather than trying to eliminate it. This approach helps individuals accept uncomfortable sensations instead of fighting them, teaches mindfulness techniques to stay present during panic episodes, and encourages a focus on valued living, even in the presence of anxiety.
Mindfulness-based therapies help individuals develop awareness of thought patterns without reacting emotionally, use breathing exercises and progressive relaxation to counteract panic attacks, and train the nervous system to respond less intensely to anxiety triggers.
This therapy is particularly useful for individuals who experience high levels of physical anxiety during panic attacks.
DBT provides practical distress tolerance skills to help individuals regulate emotions in moments of panic, strengthen self-soothing strategies, and reduce impulsivity and catastrophic thinking.
Many individuals with panic disorder benefit from DBT skills, particularly if they experience intense emotional swings alongside their panic attacks.
For some individuals, panic disorder stems from unresolved trauma. EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals process distressing memories linked to panic attacks.
Our clinical psychologists in Melbourne use EMDR to identify past events that may contribute to panic symptoms, reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, and help individuals develop new responses to past experiences.
Panic disorder can feel overwhelming, but with the right therapy, individuals can break free from its grip. Recovery involves recognising that panic attacks are not dangerous, challenging catastrophic thoughts that fuel anxiety, gradually exposing oneself to feared situations, and learning relaxation and grounding techniques.
Therapy provides the tools needed to regain confidence and reduce fear, making it possible to engage fully in life again.
A panic attack is a sudden and intense surge of fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes. It can cause physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a sense of losing control. Panic attacks can happen to anyone, even without an anxiety disorder.
Panic disorder, on the other hand, is diagnosed when a person experiences recurrent and unexpected panic attacks along with persistent worry about future attacks. It often leads to avoidance behaviours, where individuals change their routines or avoid certain places or activities to prevent another attack. Without treatment, this pattern can severely impact daily life. A psychologist in Melbourne can assess whether panic attacks are occurring as part of panic disorder and provide tailored therapy to help manage symptoms.
A panic attack is a sudden and intense surge of fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes. It can cause physical symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a sense of losing control. Panic attacks can happen to anyone, even without an anxiety disorder.
Panic disorder, on the other hand, is diagnosed when a person experiences recurrent and unexpected panic attacks along with persistent worry about future attacks. It often leads to avoidance behaviours, where individuals change their routines or avoid certain places or activities to prevent another attack. Without treatment, this pattern can severely impact daily life. A psychologist in Melbourne can assess whether panic attacks are occurring as part of panic disorder and provide tailored therapy to help manage symptoms.
Panic disorder is influenced by a combination of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Some people may have a family history of anxiety conditions, making them more predisposed to developing panic attacks. Others may develop panic disorder after prolonged stress, trauma, or major life transitions.
The body’s fight-or-flight response plays a role in panic attacks, triggering intense physical reactions even when no real danger is present. For some individuals, panic disorder begins after experiencing a panic attack in a distressing situation, leading to heightened sensitivity to bodily sensations and a fear of losing control. A clinical psychologist in Melbourne can help identify personal triggers and develop strategies to regulate the body’s response to anxiety.
Yes, panic disorder is highly treatable, and many people experience significant improvement with therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective approaches, helping individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts, gradually face feared situations, and learn techniques to manage panic attacks.
Other therapies, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness-based approaches, can help individuals develop a healthier relationship with anxiety. Some people benefit from combining therapy with lifestyle changes, including regular exercise, relaxation techniques, and limiting stimulants like caffeine. Seeking support from a psychologist in Melbourne can help create a personalised treatment plan.
When a panic attack starts, it can feel overwhelming, but there are techniques that can help manage symptoms in the moment. Slow, controlled breathing can prevent hyperventilation, reducing dizziness and chest tightness. Grounding techniques, such as focusing on the sensation of feet on the floor or describing objects in the room, can help shift attention away from anxious thoughts.
It is also important to remind yourself that panic attacks, while distressing, are not dangerous. Many people fear they are losing control or experiencing a medical emergency, but panic attacks always pass. A clinical psychologist in Melbourne can teach strategies to build confidence in handling panic attacks and reduce fear of them occurring.
The Centre for Clinical Interventions and Lifeline provides further resources for managing a panic attack.
It is natural to want to avoid situations that have triggered panic attacks in the past, but avoidance can reinforce panic disorder over time. When people avoid certain places or activities to prevent panic, they miss opportunities to learn that they can handle discomfort and that feared outcomes rarely occur.
Exposure-based therapy, guided by a psychologist, helps individuals gradually re-engage with avoided situations in a controlled way, reducing fear over time. This approach is highly effective in helping people regain confidence and freedom in their daily lives.
If panic attacks are happening frequently, causing distress, or leading to avoidance of everyday activities, seeking support from a psychologist in Melbourne can be beneficial. Therapy provides effective tools to reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks, helping individuals regain control and feel more secure in daily life.
Many people wait to seek treatment because they believe they can manage on their own, but professional support can speed up recovery and prevent panic disorder from worsening. Whether symptoms are recent or have been ongoing for years, therapy can provide strategies to improve well-being and overall quality of life.
If you or a loved one is experiencing panic disorder our Melbourne psychologists and trauma therapists are here to help. Get in touch with our friendly reception team to book an appointment. Contact us by:
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